In 2024 we commissioned ICF Consulting Services Ltd, with CECAN Ltd and Matthew Baumann Associates to develop a tool for mapping and reviewing policy systems. Here, ICF apply the same Environmental Policy System Review (EPSR) tool developed in 2024 to Northern Ireland’s Future Agricultural Policy.
The review, conducted between September 2024 and March 2025, assesses whether the Future Agricultural Policy incorporates the six components of a successful policy: Vision, Evidence, Strategy, Action Plan, Delivery Plan, Evaluation.
Overall, the report finds that the Future Agricultural Policy has ambition and some strong elements, but serious weaknesses in clarity, funding, delivery capacity, and evaluation may undermine its ability to deliver environmental and agricultural outcomes at the required scale.
Disclaimer
ICF were commissioned by the OEP to undertake this research. The views provided in this report are those of ICF and do not represent the opinion or position of the OEP.